Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Turn the Parallax RoboGames metal into a "Magic 8 Ball"(R) — Parallax Forums

Turn the Parallax RoboGames metal into a "Magic 8 Ball"(R)

BeanBean Posts: 8,129
edited 2007-09-13 12:27 in General Discussion
Uses the Parallax Robogames / Robolympics metal Item#28099
At power on (and every 5 minutes) displays the prompt ("Ask me a question...")
When the reset button is pressed, one of the answer phrases is displayed at random
Uses about 4mA when not in use, so batteries should last quite a while

Enjoy,
Bean


▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
The first rule to being successful is "Learn from your mistakes",
The second rule is "Be willing to make mistakes"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
www.hittconsulting.com


Post Edited (Bean (Hitt Consulting)) : 8/28/2007 7:40:55 PM GMT
SXB
SXB
Magic 8 Ball.SXB
23K

Comments

  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2007-08-29 15:05
    Very neat idea!

    I was thinking about doing something like this sometime back but instead of a magic 8 ball it would be that game "20 questions". Have you seen the red ball shaped·game in the stores with scrolling LCD display?

    However, this game is very smart and I'm not sure if the SX28 has the memory to hold it (possibly with EEPROM support).

    You think of an item and it guesses the item within 20 questions back to you. This is how it works. It would need at least 3 pushbuttons to answer YES, NO, Maybe.

    But this is beyond my programming level. Does anyone know if this has ever been done - i.e. source code available?

    Anyway...I can't wait to program my RoboGames medal tonight with this Magic 8 ball code of yours!
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2007-08-29 15:09
    I only have the older metal (the one that runs from 3 AAA batteries), so I hope the code works on the new version.
    Please let me know either way.

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The first rule to being successful is "Learn from your mistakes",
    The second rule is "Be willing to make mistakes"
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    www.hittconsulting.com
    ·
  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2007-08-29 15:13
    Ok. Will do. How did you test for the 4mA current use (when not in use)? Do I simply connect a meter between the CR123 battery voltage (+ or -) and the connector somehow?
  • Sparks-R-FunSparks-R-Fun Posts: 388
    edited 2007-08-31 01:03
    T&E Engineer,

    You are correct. That is a good way to test current consumption. The main consideration is that entire current must be made to flow through your testing device. Of course there are other methods for measuring current but the approach you proposed is the one most straightforward for this application.

    Let us know what you find out.

    - Sparks
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2007-09-07 12:46
    I was wondering if anyone has tried this code on the new version of the Robogames metal yet ?

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The first rule to being successful is "Learn from your mistakes",
    The second rule is "Be willing to make mistakes"
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    www.hittconsulting.com
    ·
  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2007-09-07 13:47
    I did but seemed to have a problem after shutting it down (slide switch) to have it come back to the initial question. After turning it off and on a few times it would come back to the initial question screen.

    I can look at it again tonight. Anything special to look at.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2007-09-07 14:58
    Hmmm, the older version doesn't have a switch. Try leaving it off for 10 seconds or so would be my only suggestion.
    I might have to buy one of the newer ones just to check it out.

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The first rule to being successful is "Learn from your mistakes",
    The second rule is "Be willing to make mistakes"
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    www.hittconsulting.com
    ·
  • T&E EngineerT&E Engineer Posts: 1,396
    edited 2007-09-07 16:02
    Bean,

    I think you are right on the money on that. If I leave it off·for a few seconds·it does come back·properly.

    I'm still amazed that you took a reset button and gave it an input function to something else. Wow.
  • BeanBean Posts: 8,129
    edited 2007-09-07 16:28
    Cool, thanks for trying it. I guess if the voltage doesn't fall low enough it doesn't sense it as a power up.

    I figured out how to use the reset button when we needed a fixture at work, and I was too lazy to make a custom PCB. So I just used the SX28 protoboard. But it needed a push button, so I set out to use the reset button.

    Bean.

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    The first rule to being successful is "Learn from your mistakes",
    The second rule is "Be willing to make mistakes"
    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
    www.hittconsulting.com
    ·
  • MigsMigs Posts: 95
    edited 2007-09-13 12:27
    Bean:

    Along the lines of your 8-Ball... This is cool and a bit off topic. Look at this "Sinister 7" that Pete at Sparkfun made to detect the Aether. Enjoy. -Migs

    http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/present.php?p=Sinister7

    ▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
    "Sometimes we forget that the world itself is paradise." Douglas Coupland, 'Microserfs'
    "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite" - William Blake
    "We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." Carlos Castaneda
    "One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer. " G. E. Lessing
    “How much of human life is lost in waiting.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
    "Men often mistake notoriety for fame, and would rather be remembered for their vices and follies than not be noticed at all.” Harry Truman
    My website: www.intoku.net my e-mail:mreznicek@pretensa.com me:Miguel Reznicek
Sign In or Register to comment.